>> From NJ PBS studios, this is NJ Spotlight News with Brianna Vannozzi.

>> Hello, and thanks for joining us tonight.

I'm Joanna Gaggis.

Brianna Vannozzi is off.

Coming up, we hear from a small business fighting back after being forced to close their doors when their permit was abruptly rescinded.

And later, Stevie Van Zandt, the musician and E Street band member, joins us to talk about celebrating America's 250th with music.

But first, ahead of President Trump's address to the nation tonight, we look at a New Jersey law that advocates say will protect voting rights.

Major funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided in part by NJM Insurance Group, serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

Earlier this month, Governor Mikey Sherrill signed the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act, legislation designed to protect the right to vote and ensure that minority groups have full access to the electoral process.

New Jersey is now the 11th state to pass its own Voting Rights Act.

Meanwhile, the U.S.

Supreme Court recently scaled back race as a consideration in redistricting nationally.

Now, Nuzat Chowdhury is the director of the Democracy and Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.

She joins us now to talk about it as part of our Under the Dome series.

Nuzat, it's great to have you on the show.

I want to talk about the bill that Governor Sherrill recently signed, the John Lewis Empowerment Act.

What does this law do as it relates to voting here in New Jersey?

Yeah, really excited to have the governor sign the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act.

This law is a state law which puts into state law a lot of the protections that voters used to get under the Federal Voting Rights Act.

So the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 is the federal law that came at the end of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and since its passage it had protected voters and particularly voters of color along a couple of different lines.

It gave voters legal tools to challenge, you know, discriminatory, racially discriminatory maps, gave voters legal tools to make sure that they could challenge if they were being intimidated by the polls.

It made sure that discriminatory policies stopped before they were actually passed, and it gave expanded language access protections and assistance.

Unfortunately, what we've seen since 2013 is that there have been multiple Supreme Court decisions which have significantly weakened the protections of the federal VRA.

And so what the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey or the New Jersey State Voting Rights Act does is make sure to fill in all of those places in which the federal VRA just no longer protects us in the same way anymore.

So can I can I jump in right there?

Because there's not everyone understands the difference between federal law and state law when it comes to overseeing, overseeing elections and how they're implemented.

So where is federal law superseding state law that a bill like this would be necessary?

Absolutely.

In general, federal law covers a different area than state law does.

Where federal law and state law conflict, federal law really trumps state law for lack of a better term.

In terms of voting rights, the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 protected every voter, voter of color across the entire country.

And so where that federal law is weakened now where it no longer protects us state law states can now pass laws to come in and protect voters in that state from some of those things that no longer are protected under the federal VRA.

So for example, in the New Jersey Voting Rights Act, there is a provision called the preclearance program that stops counties, if counties and other localities were to pass a voting policy that resulted in discrimination against black or brown or other voters.

Under the federal law, that preclearance program no longer exists.

In New Jersey, that will now exist with the New Jersey Voting Rights Act.

So even though the federal law is no longer doing that work in this area, the state law will protect voters of color from the impacts of any policy that might discriminate against their communities.

This law was signed right around the same time that the US Supreme Court issued a few key decisions and I want to talk about them.

One has to do with gerrymandering in this case in Louisiana where the court said that race should not be considered when it comes to drawing district maps.

This is a process that we can sometimes refer to as gerrymandering depending on how those maps are drawn.

What is your reaction to the U.S.

Supreme Court eliminating race as a consideration?

Unfortunately, this really goes along with a pattern that we have seen from the Supreme Court since 2013, really concerted effort to weaken the protections of the VRA.

I think the case is honestly disastrous.

Justice Kagan, in her dissent, says that the majority decision effectively eviscerates one of the strongest legal tools that the federal VRA had given to protect communities, and especially communities of color, from maps that diluted their votes that were racially discriminatory.

The federal VRA, it was passed specifically to make sure that we were delivering on the promises of the 14th and 15th amendments, which protect voters of color from racial discrimination and make sure that their power is, that their voice is not diluted.

And essentially what the Supreme Court said in Calais goes against what the 14th and 15th Amendments really intend to do and just make it much more difficult for voters to prove that a map really is racially discriminatory and is diluting their voting power in their communities.

The U.S.

Supreme Court did to count mail-in ballots that were mailed on Election Day.

This is a case in Mississippi.

Your reaction there?

We were pleasantly surprised by this particular decision and in full support.

Mail-in voting is one of the ways by which voting is made much more accessible to all communities.

It is safe, it is very popular, widely used, and of course here in New Jersey, it is something that has been expanded since 2020 and the pandemic and makes it much easier for voters to get in their ballots if they are not able to visit a dropbox or to go in for whatever reason during early voting or on election day.

So we we celebrate this particular decision.

We think it is good for democracy.

There is a lawsuit right now facing New Jersey.

The GOP is suing the state.

Federal law, just for a little context, does allow that some US citizens living overseas can vote, but New Jersey law goes a little further than that and allows US citizens born abroad to vote if their parent or legal guardian or spouse was eligible to vote in New Jersey in the prior election.

The GOP is suing there.

Your thoughts on whether New Jersey's law goes too far and if the GOP has a case here?

Because this is a case that the state is currently defending, I can't opine as to the constitutionality of it.

I think what is really important to remember here is that the federal law allows states to run, to administer their own elections.

So the federal law in this particular case really is meant to make sure that members of the military and U.S.

citizens overseas are allowed to vote.

And the New Jersey state law reflects that and really is about making sure that citizens who are eligible to vote otherwise are able to vote.

And I think it's important to keep in mind who the New Jersey law is impacting.

It tends to be, as I mentioned, military members, other US citizens overseas, and children of members of the military in New Jersey.

I have to jump in here because we are out of time.

I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I appreciate you taking the time to talk to us today.

Nuzad Chowdhury, Director of Democracy and Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Under the Dome is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

A popular princess themed cafe in Verona has been forced to close its doors, but the mother daughter duo behind the cafe isn't going quietly.

>>> The township of Verona issued a permit to La Bella Princess Cafe in 2023, but then earlier this year rescinded the permit saying the township employee who issued it didn't have the authority to do so.

The cafe appealed the closure and lost.

Now they're saying they're paying the price for the town's mistake after investing their life savings into the business.

Here to share her family's story is the cafe owner, Martha Peralta.

Martha, thank you so much for coming on the show.

I want to talk to you about what's happening with your business, La Bella Princess Cafe.

You opened in 2023 in December.

The Township of Verona at the time approved and issued your permit.

What changed since then?

Well, on May 6th, I received, well, I personally received the letter on May 18th, registered, but the letter was dated May 6th.

Basically just rescinding my permit.

You and your daughter opened this business together.

Your daughter's name is Carissa Teixeira.

I know you two have been vocal together as a joint effort talking about what's happening here.

given to you as to why you to us was the fact that t that gave us the valid per they were rescinding that this business before you opened it and since then?

I mean I didn't I went ahead and first of course got the valid permit.

I've been doing this type of business for 20 years.

I was up front.

I told them exactly what it is that we do which is theme parties and ticketed events.

We also added as a bonus a small you know a cafe and that's exactly what they gave us.

The moment I received that permit I went ahead and I invested my life savings into this.

I mean this was no floors, no ceilings, everything was bare bones and then we went ahead and started doing all the work as soon as I had a signed lease based on that permit.

I should tell our audience that I am a Corona resident.

I have been to your cafe.

It is a charming little spot in town and it's received really great reviews since it opened.

So there's been a lot of shock to see that this zoning was rescinded for you.

The permit was rescinded for you.

There's been a lot of community outcry since you both went public on social media to explain what happened.

I remember in March of 2025 there was a shooting at a venue across the street from your cafe.

And after that it seems the township began reviewing all of the permits.

As I understand it you're not alone in having the permit reviewed.

Are you the only one though who had it rescinded?

Do you know?

I don't know for sure but I know there's definitely been have been other small businesses affected by this.

Once we went live and we went public we've had a couple of people come to us and let us know that they were having issues as well.

I don't know the exact, whether it was rescinded or not, but I know that they have issues with the zoning department.

We reached out to the township to better understand what was happening from their perspective.

They sent us to the statement that they had issued publicly on social media and other places.

The township of Verona says you were not in compliance with their zoning ordinance, that you could appeal or you could seek a use of variance.

Now they say that you chose to appeal.

Is that correct?

Okay, so what I know and what I was told in that letter, that basically I could appeal and I'm not, according to them, I'm not in the ordinance once they changed the ordinance on March 2026.

I'm going based on my valid permit from 2023, which specifically says that I can do theme parties in this location.

I was up front, I was honest, and that's exactly what I received, and because of that I continued.

So of course, because they made some changes, my attorney was trying to have me fit into those new ordinance, and the town said I don't fit in.

The building that we rent also had a variance in 2020, which was approved to do personal service.

So we tried to say that then we could fit in that, in those type of zoning ordinance, and they told me no, I do not fit.

And that since my valid 2023 permit is no longer valid and it's void, then I would have to close my doors.

They did say they say that an independent body, the Verona Board of Adjustment, that is created under New Jersey law that separates that operates outside and separate of the township, that that is the body that upheld the dismissal of your appeal.

But they say that you could apply for a use variance.

Is that something you intend to do?

And what options does that open up for you under that process?

So after they denied and they went ahead and made that I guess the rescinding of the permit valid, they told me that I could apply for a use variance.

But the thing is that I'm hearing not only from other people but from my attorney this could take months it could take sometimes a year and it would take a lot of money to do this and this whole time my business would be closed I mean that would that would destroy us that like devastate me personally devastate my business like how could I possibly do that?

I know your daughter put out a statement together with you on social media saying that she's a mom of two little girls.

She is five months pregnant right now.

She said that one of her daughters, your granddaughter, said, "My future is over now that this has happened."

What impact has this taken on you?

She is five months pregnant.

What impact has it had on your daughter going through this process?

I mean, it's been very, very tough.

Like, it's like a roller coaster.

You know, some days are a little bit better than other.

When I dive in and try to help the families that we have bookings for, we're booked up for a few months.

My daughter, she's pregnant.

She's, luckily the baby, she just went to the doctors.

The baby is okay.

The heartbeat is fine, but her blood pressure is very high.

They told her to have bed rest.

I mean, all this has affected the entire family.

Every time my daughter mentions even my granddaughters, I mean, they've had their birthday parties here.

We've had their communion here.

It does break my heart.

Well, you do have the support of the community, business community, and folks around you.

We wish you the best.

Martha Peralta, co-owner, with your daughter, Carissa Teixeira of La Bella Princess Cafe in Verona.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

I really appreciate all the support from the community.

We are so grateful.

Thank you so much.

The July 4th holiday has passed, but the celebrations of our nation's 250th are far from over.

Here in New Jersey, there will be events and tourist destinations for folks to visit throughout the summer and even into the winter months.

One event this summer is bringing some big-name performers back to their Jersey roots.

It's called Monmouth NJ 250 and it's being held tomorrow in Freehold.

Headlining it is none other than Stevie Van Zandt, musician, E Street band member and head of the band Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul.

Here's my recent conversation with him about the event.

Stevie, we're thrilled to have you on the show.

Thanks so much for taking some time.

You and the Disciples of Soul are headlining a major concert as we celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary.

It's called Monmouth NJ 250 The Concert.

What can you tell us about this event?

Well, it was going to be this week, but we decided because of the extreme heat.

It's like a festival, you know, it's like five, six acts on the show.

So, the door is going to be like 2 p.m.

and you're going to be there until probably 10.

So, we thought eight hours in 100 plus degrees, man, was just not going to be fair to the fans.

So, we're moving it to July 17th and it's going to be essentially the same show.

What are the fans going to see?

The Weaklings, which is the best band with the worst name.

It's going to be Jake Clements, I know, he'll be there.

Gary Bonds, Joe Gruszecki.

Just a few of the greats, huh?

Just a few of the Jersey greats.

A lot of our local fun friends, really.

It's pretty much an Asbury and the family kind of a scene.

- Jake Clemons, Joe Gruszecki, we're gonna have some big names there.

Lots of music to really commemorate this 250th.

And I just wanna ask you, a lot of folks are approaching this holiday with their own perspective of what it means celebrating this historic moment for America.

For you, what does it mean to celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary?

Well, you know, obviously we are very happy we've made it this far.

You know, it was going to be a challenge when our founders put it together, you know, and we've been, you know, up until recently, it's been pretty much an uphill, I mean, I mean, you know, an uphill trajectory, you know, we've been trying to, you know, correct, correct the little things that were a little bit off through the years, you know, I mean, the Constitution was an amazing document, but had a few problems, you know, that we've been straightening out, you know, you know, and mostly it's been, it's been really an upward trajectory.

Until recently, recently now it's starting to, it's starting to level off into a sort of a place where we need to, I think we really need to re-examine ourselves, our ideals.

Well let me ask you this, when it comes to that re-examination, for you, you've played alongside Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for decades, in your own band, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, you've taken on social issues of the day, political issues of the day, I think of your song I'm a patriot, right?

You talk about opposition doesn't mean that I'm not a patriot.

How in your mind does music speak to the moment?

Well, music really is the ultimate common ground and we've always used it that way.

We're using it that way in my education curriculum, teachrock.org, which I'm happy to say we just hit a million students by the way, using our curriculum.

But we use music there to teach history and we use music to bring people together.

I've never seen our country so divided as now.

I mean it was pretty divided in the 60s, that was the last time I remember this kind of divisiveness.

But it seems even one level worse now, because nobody seems to be talking to each other, and it's really a problem.

We need to find that common ground and stay on it for a minute.

Well I gotta ask you this, do you think that music that addresses some of those social concerns, do you think that it does bring people together, or are we so siloed right now that it actually separates?

How do you see it?

Well, you know, I mean it doesn't separate, but you know, like "I Am A Patriot" is basically about two things, all right, it's about my criticism of the party system, okay, which I don't, I don't, I think the party system divides us by definition, you know, so I've always been against the entire party system, which is partly what the song is about.

And yet, part of the song, which people sometimes overlook, is being very proud of one's national identity.

And I think national identity is extraordinarily important, actually.

And, you know, you can see now in Europe, things are starting to disintegrate in terms of national identity, which is a huge, huge, huge mistake.

And I feel the same thing is starting to happen here.

You know, it's a real danger.

Can I ask you this?

Go ahead.

Go ahead.

Well, you know, when you talk about that identity, America and American music has always been a melting pot of identities, right?

And the Disciples of Soul has embodied that.

Explain how that's true.

Well, we do it even physically, you know, we have different races and we always have in the band, but, you know, we have a wide range of influences and genres that we deal with with the Disciples of Soul.

It's kind of an international viewpoint, you know, in that sense of using other people's national identities and integrating it into ours, which America was always great at.

But with that context of, you know, the basic ideals and the Constitution and all of those documents and the basic beliefs of our, that we've been living by, you know, that that cannot be compromised, you know.

And so the idea is for, you know, immigrants, for instance, we all, we all, a lot of us come from immigrant, immigrant parents and grandparents who came here wanting to be American and, and, and, and, and making sure that they became American and, you know, were integrated into America, you know, assimilated into America, bringing their ethnic gifts with them, which we all share, you know, I mean, I think Italian food kind of caught on, you know, people kind of like that, you know, but at the same time, my Italian grandparents wouldn't let us speak Italian in the house, unfortunately, so I never got a chance to learn Italian because it was very important that we grew up American, you know, and so... And you carry that sense of national pride with you today, even as you get on the stage after decades of performing in so many different spaces and venues.

Yes, and when we travel, you know, we are ambassadors from America, you know, I feel that way, you know.

Yeah, we are very proud to be American and, you know, the ideals that created our country, you know, we're the only country that was not a monoculture, you know, to begin with, you know, so we have those ideals and, you know, they're starting to unravel a little bit, so we need to refocus on who we are, I think.

We have to leave it there.

It's been great talking to you.

Stevie Van Zandt, musician, songwriter, performer, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul at Monmouth NJ 250 on July 17th.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

That's going to do it for us tonight.

I'm Joanna Gaggis.